Dilfer’s comments can probably be boiled down to him saying, “The big thing that hit me through all of this is that this is a backup quarterback, whose job is to be quiet, and sit in the shadows, and get the starter ready to play Week 1.” Basically, Dilfer’s point was that Kaepernick isn’t allowed to speak up about social issues, or anything, because he’s a backup quarterback. This is, of course, incredibly stupid. Kaepernick seems to agree. He was asked about the comments, saying:

“I just heard briefly about it. But I think that’s one of the most ridiculous comments I’ve heard. The fact that you say, ‘You’re a back-up quarterback, stay in your place’… that’s an issue. To me, you’re telling me that my position as a back-up quarterback and being quiet is more important than peoples’ lives. I would ask him to really have a conversation with the families of people that have been murdered and see if he still feels that way. Because I’d bet you he doesn’t. Just because he hasn’t experienced that type of oppression.”